Will I Live Forever?

“These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live forever. But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed.” -1 Corinthians 15:50–51


Most people are looking for the fountain of youth. They want the wrinkles, age spots, and the years to disappear. Everyone’s attempt is to slow down the aging process and somehow retain our youth. While everyone has the thought of living forever, no one can slow down death. James 4:14 compares the shortness of this earthly life to a vapor - here for a moment then gone as quickly as it came. Everyone wants eternal life void of problems, pain, and persecution. Eternal life, especially when considered good, is very appealing. But will we live forever? The answer is “yes” and “no.”

Will our bodies live forever? No. All of our bodies will one day cease to breath, move, and exist. But the real us, the spirit and soul, will last forever. The Bible says that mortality will one day put on immortality and that death will be swallowed up in victory because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Everyone has a soul. The soul is the seat of the emotions, will, desire, and personality. Vainly and uselessly the quest for immortality these days is wrapped around the body, not the soul. It is hard to sometimes accept the fact that our life in this body will one day be over. If you haven’t yet, you’ll wake up one day and realize that more life is behind you than in front of you. A better question than, “Will I live forever?” is “Where will I live forever?”

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15: 50-51 that our perishable bodies will not live forever. But there is good news that is better than any cream, shot, surgery, or procedure to mask aging. This eternal beauty secret, Paul said, was one God had already revealed to us. We will not all die but will be transformed! Yes, our bodies die (Ecclesiastes 3:2) and we will get new glorified bodies after death (Philippians 3:20-21), but our soul and spirit live eternally (Romans 6:23; John 11:25). It was Benjamin Franklin that said, “In this world two things are certain, death and taxes” (it seems like death by taxes these days). The good news about death for the believer is that it brings instant eternal heaven. 2 Corinthians 5:8 says the instant Christians are absent from this body we are present with the Lord. For the unbeliever, death brings eternal hell (Matthew 25:41).

Christ’s resurrection broke the power of death for those who believe in Him (1 Corinthians 15:57, Isaiah 25:8). Death is no longer master over them (Romans 6:9). Paul quotes Hosea 13:14 when he questions death’s sting and power over the Christian. If you have put your faith in Jesus Christ and have asked Him to forgive you of your sin, the Bible teaches that when you die, you will go instantly into the presence of God in heaven - instant immortality and eternity (Romans 8:9-11). God’s promise to you is life eternally and life during life (John 10:10). Those in Christ should not be afraid of death because it is first step in eternity and immortality for those who have entered through the Door of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9).